When I began the new collection, I spent hours and hours choosing colors. I scoured the paint departments of Fred Meyers, Home Depot, Miller Paint and others, leaving with giant fistfuls of paint sample cards. I'd pour over different color combinations within those handfuls of swatches, swapping one shade out for another until I found something that felt [in my best Goldilocks voice]...just right. I also spent my fair share of time on Pinterest, studying colors and seeing what combinations caught my eye. Of course, all those hours on Pinterest had nothing to do with my Pinterest addiction, it was all in the name of research...very serious research I tell ya!

I'd mix paint and tinker until I got the colors I wanted. Then I'd paint a batch of beads only to realize that the wood beads made the color much darker than I anticipated, so I'd tinker some more and try again to get the shade just right. I've since learned to make my colors a bit lighter and brighter before painting them on the beads. It's saved me a lot of heartache because boy let me tell you, in those early days, I was sometimes repainting beads 4 or 5 times until the color was absolutely perfect.

During that same time, I was also thinking about how I wanted to incorporate some of the women that inspire me into the collection. I've often named pieces after women I admire and was thinking I may do the same for this collection. But as I studied color more and more and began thinking more about the women that inspire me, it seemed fitting to create color stories based on real women that have influenced me in some way.

In the coming weeks I'll be sharing about the women behind the color stories, but for now, I just wanted to share a few of the color combinations you can find in the new collection. I've made it so most necklaces can be made in each color story.

Which one is your favorite?

HOLLIE

NIKISHA

HEATHER

TIDE POOL

I'll also be offering a mix + match option - an "artists choice" if you will, where I'll create the style necklace you choose but in an assortment of colors that I pick. It's perfect for the lady that can't decide on a color or for those that are a bit adventurous and love a little surprise!